Sunday, January 13, 2008

Are American Voters Really This Feeble-minded?

I have heard a few reports of Women from New Hampshire who stated that they supported Hillary Clinton at the last minute because of her little emotional episode. The candidate who usually came off as robotic and scripted all of a sudden became human in New Hampshire. And that influenced who voters supported? Incredible.

This seems to be another indication that American voters react more to style than actual substance. This is one of the many reasons why we ended up with George W. Bush in back to back elections coronations. Americans rarely pay attention to actual issues and the track records of the candidates, or the plans and platforms that those candidates put forth. How voters "feel" about a candidate always seems to trump any of the substantive issues. This makes the American public easy prey for any snake oil salesperson with a pursuasive, feel-good message.

What makes American voters so feeble? I understand that the public education system is lacking and that has a lot to do with this problem, but there seems to be more to it than that.

But all is not lost. Some folks didn't drink the Kool-aid. The woman who asked the question that got Hillary so emotional, didn't quite buy it. In the end she voted for Obama.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

"Are American Voters Really This Feeble-minded?"

Yes, and you're right -- this is what happens when the general populace has a 4th-grade education.